- Congress is buoyed by its performance in Gujarat elections and Rajasthan by-polls.
- Rahul ran an effective on the ground campaign in Gujarat focusing on local issues.
- Partly succeeded in making the contest into 182 mini contests rather than for ‘one state’ as projected by Modi.
- However, Karnataka is a different ball game.
- Here Congress is the incumbent and will have to battle natural anti-incumbency.
- Rahul realizes that a localized campaign here would not work.
- Because there will always be a road, a school, a hospital which would not have been built.
- Certain manifesto promises are work in progress, not yet fully implemented. Some are difficult to implement because of practical considerations.
- Congress strategy is Effort to keep issues at the state level, project good work of Siddaramaiah govt.
- Strategy is to contest on a combined leadership strength of Siddaramaiah his popularity among AHINDA complemented by Rahul’s increasing popularity ratings.
- Essentially converting the elections into Presidential style.
- Rahul began his campaign in Ballary attacking Modi and Congress at national level.
- Attempt is to play on anger which is slowly developing against centre – jobs, agri distress, Rafael deal, Nirav Modi scam.
- In same way, Modi talked about everything apart from Gujarat model in elections there.
- However, this strategy entails a risk of pitting Rahul vs Modi.
